India's First Soil Carbon Payments Initiative — 'Aadi'

Key Facts

  • More than 2,500 smallholder farmers in Punjab and Haryana received digital payments for adopting regenerative agricultural practices.
  • Payments were made under the 'Aadi' farmer carbon programme — India's first farm-level soil carbon payment initiative.
  • First payments ranged between ₹3,000 and ₹15,000, based on farmers' share of carbon credits generated from their fields.

About the Initiative

  • Launched: 2019 by Grow Indigo, with technical guidance from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
  • Objective: Link sustainable farming practices with additional farmer income through carbon markets.
  • Scale: Covers over two million acres and more than 100,000 farmers across seven states — one of India's largest agricultural carbon programmes.

Farming Practices Adopted (2019–2022)

  • Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) — reduces water use and methane emissions.
  • Reduced tillage — preserves soil structure and carbon.
  • Crop residue management — prevents stubble burning.

Carbon Credit Mechanism

  • Greenhouse-gas reductions and soil carbon increases were scientifically measured and independently verified.
  • Credits issued under the Verra VM0042 methodology (an international standard for agricultural carbon projects).

Environmental Benefits (Estimated)

  • 45 billion litres of water saved.
  • Over 2 lakh tonnes of crop residue burning prevented.
  • Around 1,000 tonnes of PM2.5 emissions avoided.

Significance

  • Connects scientific research, carbon markets, and farmer incentives.
  • Demonstrates how regenerative agriculture can support higher farmer incomes, soil health improvement, resource conservation, and climate-resilient farming.
  • Relevant to India's climate commitments (NDCs) and schemes promoting sustainable agriculture (e.g., Natural Farming, Soil Health Card, crop residue management schemes).

Related Concepts

  • Carbon markets: Trading systems where carbon credits (1 credit = 1 tonne CO2-equivalent reduced/removed) are bought and sold; India is developing a domestic compliance carbon market under the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2022.
  • Regenerative agriculture: Farming that restores soil health, enhances biodiversity, improves water cycles, and sequesters carbon.